Agitator



F. E. STUART `Ian. 2, 1962 AGITATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed 0G13. 5, 1959 F. E. STUART Jan. 2, 1962 AGITATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 5, 1959 United States Patent Oiitice 3,015,476 Patented Jan. 2, 1962 3,015,476 AGITATOR Fred E. Stuart, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Stuart Corporation, Baltimore, Md., a corporation of Maryland Filed Oct. 5, 1959, Ser. No. 844,295 Claims. (Cl. 259-141) This invention relates to agitation of liquids such as water or aqueous waste solutions and is particularly concerned with an agitating arrangement especially useful in connection with ilocculating mechanism associated with water treatment systems.

This application is related to my U.S. Patents 2,596,082 and 2,715,099. In these patents there is shown agitating arrangements for agitating bodies of water to create lturbulence therein or for enhancing the treatment action and in particular to enhancing ilocculation eiciency.

The present invention is particularly concerned with an improved agitator structure in which agitating eiciency is greatly increased by so forming the agitator that it is equally effective in both directions of movement thus providing an advance in the art over the agitation shown, for example in my Patent 2,715,099. In my patent above referred to a walking beam type agitator is disclosed in which the agitating member proper is in the form of an inverted V of substantial length and size and consisting of slat members or slotted members. These members are supported from the ends of spaced walking beams so that as the beams osciilate the agitating members move up and down in the body of water and create the desired agitation and turbulence therein. Due to the fact that the slats or slotted members making up the agitator are inclined Vat the angle of the V the agitating effect of such agitation is dierent on the upstroke than it is on the downstroke, This has a tendency to reduce the ilocculation eiciency.

Having the foregoing in mind it is a primary obiect of the present invention to provide an agitator of the nature referred to which -is characterized in increased agitating eiiiciency.

Another obiect of this invention is to provide an agitator of the nature referred to which is equally effective on the up and down strokes thereby increasing the speed and eiciency of treatment being carried out on the agitated liquid such as ilocculation.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an agitator structure for a occulator or the like which comprises a walking beam operator. The agitator structure is relatively inexpensive and can easily be manufactured and repaired so that installed it has long life.

rI'hese and other objects and advantages will become apparent upon reference to the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing a portion of a water treatment installation in which ilocculation is carried out with the aid of a walking earn yoperator arrangement and including the stair step agitator structure according to this invention;

FIGURE 2 is `an end elevational View of one of the agitator members of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional View taken through one of the blades of the agitator showing the manner of construction the agitator member frame land of attaching the individual agitating elements thereto;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view partly broken away and showing a modiiied stair step construction of the agitator means in which the individual agitator elements are constructed of metal;

FEGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view in perspective of the stair step agitator structure illustrated in FlGURE 4 showing the construction of the metallic agitator elements and indicating a construction hollow;

FIGURE 6 is a similar fragmentary perspective view las in FIGURE 4 showing a still further modiied form of the support portion of the agitator member; and

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the agitator structure of FIGURE 5 and showing still another modied form of the agitator support member.

Referring to the drawings somewhat more in detail, there is provided Within the concrete basin, tank or reservoir 10 the agitator generally designated 12 carried on the lower ends of rods 14 attached to the opposite ends of the walking beams 16, the latter being mounted in spaced relation on a rock shaft 18 supported in bearings 20. Rock shaft 18 has an actuating arm 22 connected by a rod 24 with a rotary crank arm 26 driven via a speed reducing gear box 2S by a motor 30. Another rod 32 leading from arm 22 connects with an actuating arm on another rock shaft so that a plurality of rock shafts can be actuated by a single drive motor.

The agitator members 12, comprises angle frame members 34 which are interconnected, as by welding to form an inverted V-shaped frame structure. Two or more of the sets of interconnected angle members 34 are provided in spaced relation and these form'the support for the open stair step arrangement of the agitator elongated paddle blades 36 which are secured to the frame structure.

As will be seen in FIGURES 2 and 3 the angle members 34 may advantageously have supportangles 3S welded thereto forming support for the back edges of the elements 36 while adjacent the outer edges thereof the elements rest on the legs 4i) that extend downwardly into supporting relation with the support members 38, preferably being welded thereto as indicated at 42 in FIGURE 3. Bolts 44 are provided to attach the agitating elements 36 to the supports therefor.

The agitating paddle blades 36 are fixed to the inverted V-shaped frames formed by the interconnected angles 34. These frame members may be otherwise interconnected, as for example, by means 0f an inverted angle 46v extending between the frames and welded thereto and to which rods 14 are attached.

It will be noted that the agitating paddle blades 36 are arranged horizontally like the steps of a stairway structure and so that they are each in a place that is perpendicular to the direction of movement of the agitator members. Because of this arrangement, the agitating elements are equally effective in the upward and downward directions of movement.

This increases the speed and eiiiciency of the treatment being carried out on the liquid being agitated that depend on such agitation for the said speed and eiciency and particularly in connection with liocculation treatment of water.

The individual agitating paddles 36 as illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 3 are formed of wood but these elements may be formed of metal, if desired, and would preferably be hollow as is shown in connection with the agitator elements 50 in FIGURE 5 and which is shown in Vertical section through the supporting inverted V- shaped angle frame support.

In FIGURES 4 and 5 the supports for the individual agitating paddle blades are shown in the form of stepped strips 52 welded as at 54 to the inverted V-shaped supporting frames 56 and providing a stair step structure for receiving the paddle blades which are boltedv thereto by bolts 58.

In FIGURE 6 the supports for the agitating paddle elements are in the form of the zig-zag bars 66 welded as at 62 to the support frame 64 except that the uppermost agitating element has its inner ends supported by the small angle member 66.

FIGURE 7 shows a somewhat more detailed structure of FIGURES 4 and 5.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to different usages and conditions; and, accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention as may fall Within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a occulator for treating waters, agitator structure connected to a walking beam operator, horizontally spaced frame members, means comprising elongated paddles which extend horizontally and join said spaced frame members together in a rigid structure, said paddles and frame members providing an open stair step agitator structure, and said paddles overlapping each other in a horizontal direction whereby thorough agitation of 110cculated waters is provided.

2. In a flocculator for treating waters, agitator structure connected to a walking beam operator, horizontally spaced inverted V-shaped frame members, means comprising elongated paddles comprising at strip paddles which extend horizontally and join said spaced frame membersv together in a rigid structure, said paddles and frame members providing an open stair step agitator structure, and said paddles overlapping each other in a horizontal direction whereby thorough agitation of occulated Waters is provided.

3. In a flocculator for treatmg Waters, an agitator comprising spaced frame members comprising interconnected angles of inverted V-shape, means rigidly attached to the outer edges of said frame members forming support means in the form of steps, elongated paddle agitator members attached to said support means extending in horizontal planes and parallel with each other and overlapping each other in the horizontal direction, means comprising a walking beam secured to said frame members for reciprocating said agitator, said support means comprising a strip on each side of each frame member which is rigidly aflixed thereto and each strip being formed to provide a series of horizontally yarranged steps for receiving the frame members.

4.` In a occulator for treating Waters, a walking beam operator comprising a rock shaft, spaced beams attached at their centers to said rock shaft, rods depending from the ends of said beams, agitator means attached to the lower ends of said rods and depending from the corresponding ends of said beams, said agitator means comprising spaced inverted Veshaped frame members, means attached to the outer edges of said frame members providing steps for supporting agitator elements, said agitator elements comprising elongated at paddle members supported on said support means and attached thereto, said agitator paddles being extended horizontaI and parallel with each other, said rock shaft having an actuating arm thereon, and power means comprising a reciprocating link connected with said actuating arm for actuating said rock shaft.

5. In a occulator for treating waters, a walking beam operator, an agitator comprising a stepwise structure including spaced frame members comprising interconnected inverted V-shaped angles, means interconnecting said frame members, means rigidly attached to the outer edges ot' said frame members forming support means in the form of steps, fiat elongated agitator members attached to said support means extending in horizontal planes and parallel with each other, said agitator being reciprocated vertically by said walking beam, said agitator members overlapping in the horizontal direction, said support means comprising angle clips attached to said frame members, each angle clip having a vertical leg engaging the back edge of one of the agitator members, and a honzontal leg at the top end of the vertical leg engaging the bottom of the agitator member next above said one agitator member.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 454,028 Butler June 16, 1891 469,402 Grondahl Feb. 23, 1892 1,681,866 McCauley Aug. 21, 1928 V2,499,816 Carter ..-'Mar. 7, 1950 2,596,082 Stuart May 6, 1952 

